Myanmar: Battles in Pauktaw Township
A naval vessel attempting to land on Ngabi Island was hit. Ayeyarwady, October 19, 2026 The Arakan Army (AA) is firing heavy weapons to deter naval vessels attempting to land on Ngabi Island in Pauktaw Township, which is under AA control in Sittwe Township, and one vessel was hit yesterday, according to military news sources. A local military news source close to the AA said, "This is the third vessel hit in the Sittwe area. One more was hit yesterday. It caught fire." Currently, fierce fighting is ongoing on and near Ngabi Island, with the military reportedly continuing to attempt suicide landings. Military outposts in Sittwe Township are surrounded and under attack, and the military, which is losing outposts, launched an offensive on Ngabi Island to defend the Shwemingyan naval base east of Sittwe city. Ngabi Island is a key location for the AA, which has blocked the Kaladan River to prevent the military junta from advancing into Pauktaw and Punna Kyun townships from Sittwe Township. The military has launched an offensive on this island, and from this island, they may attempt to land on the east bank of the Kaladan River near Pauktaw village and the west bank villages of Punna Kyun Township, according to military analysts. However, the military is currently suffering losses in the fighting on Ngabi Island, and naval vessels attempting to land are reportedly turning back after being hit by AA heavy weapons. A military news source close to the AA said, "Even with suicide attempts to land, not many reached the shore." The AA is not only defending against the military advancing on Ngabi Island but is also attacking military outposts at the entrance to Sittwe city at Myat Cho Island, and has captured some defensive outposts in the surrounding area. Currently, the AA has captured at least 6 frontline defensive outposts of the military near Myat Cho Island, Kantaw Island, and Wa Bo Island, and the AA offensive has reached areas closest to the Shwemingyan naval base and the regional command center (RDC Sittwe), according to military news sources. In this situation, the military, with no other escape route, is launching an offensive towards Ngabi Island using naval vessels built along the Kaladan River bank, Shwemingyan naval base, and the shoreline of Sittwe Point, which are secured. Ngabi Island, where the military is attempting to land, is an island in the middle of the Kaladan River at the junction of three townships: Sittwe, Pauktaw, and Punna Kyun, located about 1 mile east of Sittwe city and more than 1 mile from the coast of Pauktaw Township. The AA is based on the island and is closely threatening the military's Shwemingyan naval base along the eastern bank of the Kaladan River, the Kyetaw Village outpost, and naval vessels on the Kaladan River. In addition to Sittwe, fierce fighting is also occurring near Taw Maung Oo naval base in Kyauktaw Township, and the military has lost outposts near Aw Taung Village, according to ground military news sources. Furthermore, counter-offensives are being launched into AA-controlled areas in Magway, Bago, and Ayeyarwady regions bordering Rakhine State, and the military is suffering losses, according to ground sources. In such a situation, the military, suffering losses in frontline battles, is bombing civilian areas in Kyauktaw city, including India Street, internally displaced person camps, and residential villages, daily with flights of bombs. News - Linn Thit #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #RejectMilitaryCoup
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